South West Trains hosted a ‘Try a Train Day’ to provide mobility impaired people with the confidence to travel by rail on Wednesday 26th October.
The event was supported by the Basingstoke Disability Group and was attended by interest groups, wheelchair users (including those whose illness has reduced their mobility) and people with visual or hearing impairments.
The event started at Basingstoke station where upon arrival attendees were provided with an induction that covered a number of issues that mobility impaired people usually find challenging, including going through the station, train information, using facilities or lifts and purchasing tickets.
Following a tour of Basingstoke station everyone boarded a South West Trains’ service to Farnborough where guests were briefed on finding train toilets, priority seating with examples of visual and audible on train information.
They were also provided with refreshments and given the opportunity to ask members of South West Trains’ Customer Services team any questions they had.
Phil Dominey, Stakeholder and Accessibility Manager for South West Trains, said:
“We are aware that transport plays a crucial role in people’s lives but we know that for many lack of confidence or knowledge can often prevent them from travelling by train.
“Our ‘Try the Train’ days have proved very popular and useful to the local community, and we hope we have helped to demonstrate just how easy train travel can be.”
Paul Midgley, Disability Forum Administrator from Basingstoke Disability Group said:
“The aim of ‘Try the Train’ is to introduce train travel to mobility impaired people who may not know the extent of the accessibility on trains, and those who have not used the train before.
“It also provides a forum for those who regularly use accessible public transport to discuss their experiences with South West Trains.”
The event provided information about rail travel, specific rail journeys, information about getting assistance during journeys and an opportunity to experience train travel first hand.
South West Trains also hosts an annual accessibility conference.
Stakeholders are given an update and are offered the opportunity to give their feedback to senior managers.
